Porrón on the Square

 Dress: Sylvia Maxi Dress in Peony Allure by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhoto)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress a record 3! times. I may have had a crush on it, but I had to let it go. Those huge bursts of pink flowers against the black were so happy making! The fit was fantastic & this is the exact length I prefer my maxis to be. It's lined & the shirring at the neckline & waist elevated this dress to perfection for me. Extremely well made gorgeous dress! I wore it to work, garage sales, errands, & to Concerts on the Square with Kate. This is a dress that could go anywhere. 

The first time I wore this dress, it was to work & then to the Overture Center for their sneak peek at the season ahead & the chance to get single tickets 2 days earlier than anyone else. I could have sat on stage in the stunning Capitol Theatre & had free drinks & snacks...however, I knew I wouldn't stick around long...so I sat off to the side in the shadows. I was able to score the last 2 front row tickets to see David Sedaris with Super Boo!! We adore him & attend his show whenever he's in town. 

I enjoyed walking through 2 art exhibits on display as I left Overture. 

The things I left behind, above. On the second day I wore this dress it was to garage sales & work. Pretty shoes & a Velvet Elvis...I hope somebody gave these good homes. 

Fabulous garage sale scores on this day included...2 vintage suitcases & a plant stand...

As well as a vintage sewing case; some vintage jewelry, including many seashell necklaces that I have plans for; silver serving stuff; a dress made in Cameroon in the 90s; a hatbox, a frog (I intend to store my eyeliners in it); a vintage metal Cutex box; a pencil sharpener; a ceramic warming pot; & many lovely plates & cups. 

And on the third day, work & then...Super Boo & I had a delicious lunch at Stalzy's Deli...the smoked pork Rachel is my favorite.

Kate's new wine toy, a porrón, was so much fun to use & spill on ourselves! It turns out we were using it wrong & it is much more impressive when you take the cork out. 

In addition to wine fun, Kate brought us kale salad & market berries to nibble on during Concert on the Square. It's a good thing white wine doesn't stain. 

My make-up with this dress included...

Coral & Sweet Pea

 Dress: Textured Fit & Flare Dress by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Naturalizer, thrifted

Earring: Vintage 80s

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to work & to the Tuesday east side farmers' market. This dress was a lovely shade of coral & the texture had a vintage 60s vibe, however, it was too tight on me to hang nicely & it was more appropriate for cooler weather. I think this would be a fabulous fall dress for someone smaller than me. I loved the combination of coral & these sweet pea colored teggings.

A client gave me these enormous zucchinis, which were about as long as my arm. We took the challenge & managed to use them up within a week. 

I am rather fond of our small east side market. It is easy to park & zip through...unlike the gigantic market on Saturday around the capitol square. 

My make-up included...Urban Decay eyeshadows in Vert & Blunt, as well as a mixture of NYX Nectar & Bite Beauty Blood Orange on my lips. 

Art Fair on the Square

 Dress: Kiwi Print Knit Dress by eShakti (size 4x)

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Necklace & Earring: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this fabulously fun frock to Art Fair on the Square with Super Boo one day & to farmers' market with Kate the following weekend. This was my first knit dress from eShakti & I went down one size from the non-stretch dresses I've gotten from them in the past. It is slightly too big in the bust, but fits great everywhere else. I had had my eye on this playful print for a while, so when the chance came to buy it for $11 (with coupons)...I went for it. I love the print, citrus colors, & style...but the best part...it's cotton. Cotton sounded like a delightful idea on this hot sunny day. Normally, I like to buy clothing & let it sit around for months before actually wearing it...but I wore this the same week it arrived. Also, before it was even delivered to me...it disappeared from the site, as their prints often do. 

We wanted to go to Art Fair on the Square to visit the artist, Bruce Holwerda, we bought all our art for our office from last year & to view his new work. However, after that, it wasn't nearly as much fun since we weren't looking for anything...so that, coupled with the fact that it was blazing hot, helped us decide to end our ogling early & have lunch. 

I should have bought one of those hats...they were adorable! The designer was Fatou Sall, & she doesn't seem to have much of an online presence. 

The Old Fashioned is conveniently located on the square & air conditioned...they also have fun art on their walls. Tasty cheese curds with roasted garlic dipping sauce to share & a walleye sandwich. 

My make-up included...Sugarpill Acidberry eyeshadow, UD Junkshow eyeshadow, MAC's Rubenesque Paint Pot, & a mixture of OCC Trollop & Bite Beauty Blood Orange on my lips. 

A Streetcar Named Desire

 Dress: Pink Floral Printed Dress by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Target

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to work on one day & on another to see a play. The colors in this dress were so pretty...coral & dusty rose. Before GB, I detested pink...but I'm coming around. The fit & flare style with the empire waist is a favorite silhouette of mine & the length was just above my knees. However, I would have preferred a less conservative neckline & sleeveless rather than the cap sleeves. London Times runs a tad big, which works out for me well. 

Super Boo, Kate, Angie, & I traveled to Spring Green to see A Streetcar Named Desire at American Players Theatre. I made Zucchini & Quinoa Salad with Walnuts & Shrimp Wraps with Melon/Cucumber Relish, with cherries for dessert. Kate brought the wine & Angie supplied the tablecloth, napkins, plates, & utensils. This may sound silly...but it felt much more special with an actual tablecloth & vintage mismatched cloth napkins. I like special. I realized in looking at this photo...that I sprinkled parmesan atop my wrap instead of over the squash...whoops. The shrimp wraps were AMAZING! We all agreed. If you are searching for some new picnic food...these wraps are perfection. 

Streetcar is only my second play of the season & I already know it's my favorite. I adore Tennessee Williams & this play in particular...the acting was suburb, the night was perfect. 

These photos of the play were found online, as there is no picture taking during the performance. 

My make-up with this dress included...eyeshadows from the Urban Decay Naked palettes, 1 & 3; Sephora brown eyeliner; MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot; a mixture of Bite Beauty's Blood Orange & Pomegranate, as well as OCC's Electric Grandma on my lips; & Lunch at the Delhi by OPI on my nails. 

Concerts on the Square

 Dress: Heidi Halter Dress in Fuchsia Paisley by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Necklace & Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to work on one day & to Concerts on the Square with Kate on another. I am in love with this dress. Paisley has been my all time favorite pattern since the 70s & pink is something I've recently embraced. This dress is perfect & dead sexy. I was worried about the halter showing my bra as I detest strapless bras...but Super Boo had gotten me some bands that hold the straps together in back so there was no bra peeking out or straps falling down...success! 

As soon as GB got this dress I had to have it...as the weeks went by & they didn't send it to me...I put a call out on The Girls of GB & one of the fabulous members, Melissa, sweetly offered to send it to me since she had it in 2 sizes at home. How lovely & thoughtful is that?! The USPS didn't get it to me on time otherwise it would have been mine had I been able to try it on before the sale GB was having ended...I should have gotten it anyway. Did I mention I'm in love?! I felt like Marilyn Monroe in this frock. 

Pretty in Pink Concert Girlies! The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra plays 6 Concerts on the Square each summer...this night's theme was classical top 40. 

Kate brought us delicious sparkling wine & all the local berries...strawberries, raspberries, & blueberries from that day's downtown market...as well as Juneberries she picked in the neighborhood. They were all amazing. I made us artichoke hummus wraps with cabbage/carrot/bell pepper slaw topped with local tomatoes. It was the most gloriously gorgeous weather, the company was divine, the music was charming, & the food & drink were delectable....it was a nearly flawless evening...if only we hadn't been shushed.

My make-up with this dress included...Junkshow & Chase eyeshadows from the Urban Decay Vice Ltd palette, Woodstock liquid liner from UD, Winterberry lipstick by Bite Beauty, & You're A Pisa Work polish from OPI.

4th of July Weekend

 Dress: Split Sleeve Dress by Anna Scholz (size 24), bought from the GB Shop

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I basically wore this outfit all of 4th of July weekend. I loved this Anna Scholz dress when I had it from Gwynnie Bee last year. Notice how much better the elastic is in those photos...in both the neck & waist. It is in fabulous shape otherwise, so I am going to see if I can replace the elastic so it fits better. I love the colors in this & the split sleeves. 

The photos of me in this dress were taken on Thursday. Two hours after I went to bed that night, I woke up in pain & ended up in the ER for 12 hours, from 4:30 am to 4:30pm. It turned out to be nothing, however, it messed with the rest of my weekend as my sleep cycle was out of whack. So, when I left the house for a few hours at a time over the weekend...I threw on this same outfit as I was not up to thinking or putting on make-up. 

This sign where we took the photos amused me. We wandered into a restaurant parking lot where classic car drivers gather every Thursday night...the flames were my favorite. Then we got BBQ rib takeout & went home to watch MasterChef Australia. We had to stop watching the U.S. version because we could no longer stomach the condescending shaming way Gordon Ramsey talks to people. The Australian MasterChef is fantastic...the judges give constructive criticism & the contestants are SO amazingly supportive & nice to each other. Based on that show alone...we want to move to Australia. 

Fireworks! When we can't imagine fighting the crowds, we go to the beach to watch the fireworks from a distance. Kate, always a rule follower, brought her box of wine as not to break the no glass rule. However, I will point out that she asked me to bring water & she knows the Pellegrino bottles are glass...but I think that must be alright because she is not the one breaking the rule? 

Sunday I drove Kate out to Lodi so she could hike that section of the Ice Age Trail. On my way back to Madison, I spied a fabulous garage sale! All vintage, lots of oooooooo-ing & aaaaaahhhh-ing. I found a gloriously rusty huge metal wheel that I had to have...as well as this bully dog planter & chartreuse metal pot...oh, there was a big old metal kettle as well that I forgot to take photos of. The only problem was...I had exactly $1 on me as I didn't bring my purse...so I gave that to them with the promise I'd come back to pay & pick up my treasures when I fetched the girlie. 

Cookout at Angie & Toby's! Burgers & Brats on the grill & I finally got the potato salad I'd been craving all weekend. The dogs are jealous of my strawberry shortcake.

My make-up included...

1 Dress, 2 Ways

 Dress: Sleeveless Fit & Flare Dress by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Green Sandals: Dansko

Red Sandals: Clarks

Grape Necklace & Bubble Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Earrings with both outfits: etXarte

Green/Pearl Necklace: Vintage Miriam Haskell

Bracelet: Age Before Beauty

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I loved this dress so much that I wore it to work two days in a row. I think I am going to buy it online because how cute would this be with a cardigan dressed up for cooler months?! It's a scuba fabric, but of a nicer variety...so I will forgive it. Those colors! That pattern! This dress has an adorable cut-out in back that is positioned perfectly so no bra shows...& as long as we're talking about my bra...the armholes on this are just right & fit without being too tight or showing any bra. I know some girls have a problem with the blue placement being at the widest point...but I actually like that...it accentuates my pear shape & I think that's sexy. If you enlarge some of the closer up photos...you can see the myriad colors...so much to work with & pull out with accessories & make-up. Adore. 

Super Boo & I see different clients every day, so I can get away with wearing the same dress two days in a row. 

This is my favorite of the two looks. Because orange is the color of fun!

These signs amuse me, most Culver's have switched to electronic signs, but there are still two that I drive by on a regular basis that do it the old fashioned way. This is probably one of my favorite mash-ups of all time...

The original NAKED! Urban Decay was having a sale, so I finally bought this. I have 3, which I use a lot...& 2, which I hate because it comes off so cool & I prefer warm...which is why I am not going to purchase their new Naked Smoky palette. I also got some eyeliner in Mildew...such a gorgeous green. 

This was the first time I noticed that UD uses the same purple tissue paper as GB.

I am in love with this grape necklace made by the talented & charming Ms. Wendy Baker.

My make-up on the grape necklace day included...Urban, Freak, & Thrash eyeshadows from the UD Electric palette, Voodoo UD eyeliner, Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream in Burgundy, & My Gecko Does Tricks by OPI on my nails. 

My make-up on the color of fun day included...Freak eyeshadow from UD & Tangerine shadow from MUFE, NYX eyeliner in Tropical Green, a mixture of MAC Korean Candy lipstick & Bite Beauty Apricot, & the same OPI on my nails.